SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting Testing and research agenda Alessandra Alfieri UN Statistics Division

Transcription

1 SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting Testing and research agenda Alessandra Alfieri UN Statistics Division

2 Background Development of SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting as a synthesis of developments across disciplines Short development timeframe that did not aim to resolve all conceptual and methodological issues Material presented to UNSC in February 2013 Draft SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting Draft Research agenda highlighting the need for continued testing and research Current requirement to determine Priority areas Appropriate mechanisms, resources and links to related projects

3 Key aspects of the research agenda Must be multi-disciplinary Not aiming at discipline specific measurement improvement (although these are important) Must aim to cover multiple ecosystem types Must incorporate both conceptual work and testing of definitions and methods Must integrate effectively with existing projects and new initiatives Should link with research agenda for the SEEA Central Framework and be associated with implementation of the SEEA Central Framework

4 Priority #1: Spatial units Delineating appropriate spatial units and associated classification is central to effective progress Units model generally accepted but is a blend of many perspectives and needs to be tested Extensions to consider marine areas and the atmosphere are needed Important to consider optimal links to georeferencing of socio-economic data Links to defining classifications for land use and land cover are important

5 Priority area #2: Methods for measuring ecosystem services and assets Concepts and definitions described in SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting Less obvious exactly how to populate the information Key considerations How to determine the most important services and characteristics (don t focus on only the measureable) Linking physical flows of ES to beneficiaries Advancing development of classifications Determining reference/benchmark conditions Incorporating measures of biodiversity Variation in methods across ecosystem type

6 Priority area #3 : Presentation and structure Concepts and methods need to be developed in the context of disseminating information Accounting structures are only indicative in the SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting text Key considerations Matching information requirements to concepts and methods Approaches to linking ecosystem data to socioeconomic data Development of different dissemination techniques especially maps Articulation of potential indicators

7 Priority #4: Linking to socio-economic data SEEA s objective is to bring environmental and economic information together Challenge to ensure that the spatial scales used to compile ecosystem related data are not aligned with those used for socio-economic data Many developments on geo-referencing socioeconomic data underway Objective here is to examine ways to harness these developments and associated techniques around big data for use in accounting situations Close links needed to delineation of spatial units

8 Priority area #5: Valuation of ecosystem services This topic has much momentum in many places Text of SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting highlights some important considerations from an accounting perspective Important to engage with economists to reach common understanding of potential methods and relevant assumptions Important links also to developments at the corporate level in integrating values of ecosystem services in business accounting frameworks

9 Medium to longer term priorities Accounting concepts Degradation valuation and allocation Integration of ecosystem values into standard accounts and balance sheets (links to wealth a/c) Treatment of expenditures on ecosystems (incl PES) Connections between ecosystem services and ecosystem condition Often seen as competing approaches SEEA EEA sees clear links but they are complex and non-linear Aggregation and ecosystem-wide indicators Most challenging aspect: needs to build and combine all other research and testing work

10 Management and governance proposals Recognise multi-agency requirements and harnessing existing knowledge Under the auspices of the UNCEEA Key aspects of the proposals Small steering committee Co-ordination and reporting Forum of experts Building connections and networks Targetted Technical Expert Groups (TEG) Providing technical guidance Identification of research and testing opportunities Allocation of resources Future international conference

11 Possible TEGs #1: Geospatial data, land classifications and units (closely linked with the expert group on geo-spatial information established by the UN Statistical Commission) #2: Physical measures of ecosystem services and ecosystem condition #3: Valuation techniques and approaches to aggregation (closely linked with WAVES-PTEC and TEEB) #4: Presentation and policy linkages (closely linked with WAVES-PTEC and TEEB) #5: Integrated accounting issues (links with London Group on Environmental Accounting and National Accounts fora)

12 Possible timing of proposals Sept 2013: Establish steering committee and forum of experts Nov 2013: Establish TEGs and initial research questions Nov 2013: Meeting of forum of experts May 2014: Interim reports of progress Oct 2014: TEGs reports on key findings and recommendations Oct 2015: International conference

13 Questions for discussion Comments on priorities Short to medium term Medium to longer term Comments on governance proposals Steering committee Establishment of TEG Use of forum of experts and international conference for discussion and consultation